PaísDI: Feasibility and effectiveness of an advocacy program for adults with intellectual disability and their stakeholders' groups in Chile

Abstract

Background: People with intellectual disability in Chile face individual and collective barriers to social participation. Lack of knowledge about their rights and tools for effective self-advocacy seem to be key elements that need to be improved to facilitate participation.Method: We present PaísDI, a 16 h long manualised program created by selfadvocates in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, with four modules: rights and intellectual disability, leadership in intellectual disability, effective communication and financial considerations of social projects. This quasi-experimental study had 349 participants, divided in three groups: people with intellectual disability, relatives and professionals. Feasibility and effectiveness where measured. Results:The program is shown to be viable and effective, especially in its impact on self-perception for self-advocacy activities. Conclusion:The discussion highlights Chile's historic debt in creating policies that promote self-determination, knowledge and the empowerment of people with intellectual disability, to bolster their participation as citizens.

Examining the associations among knowledge, empowerment, and advocacy among parents of transition-aged youth with autism

“…Notably, advocacy programs are emerging not only in the United States but also globally (e.g. in Chile, Tenorio et al, 2022). Most advocacy programs have little published data documenting their effectiveness (Goldman, 2020).…”